Delhi government to launch monthly aid for women on Rakshabandhan, likely renamed Laxmi Yojana
The Delhi government is expected to launch its monthly financial assistance scheme for women on the occasion of Rakshabandhan this year, officials said on Tuesday. The scheme, a key promise made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run-up to the 2025 assembly elections, will provide monthly aid to women from households with an annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh.
Originally referred to as the 'Mahila Samriddhi Yojana', the programme is now being considered for a name change. Officials from the Department of Women and Child Development indicated that the scheme may be renamed 'Laxmi Yojana'. 'The name change has been discussed in meetings and is under consideration. A final decision and approval will come from the government,' an official said.
Last year, the government constituted a high-level committee to finalise the eligibility criteria, norms, and implementation of the scheme. The committee is chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and includes ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh, Kapil Mishra, and Ashish Sood as members.
The launch on Rakshabandhan, a festival symbolising the bond between brothers and sisters, is seen as symbolically significant. The scheme aims to provide financial support to women in the capital, fulfilling a major electoral pledge.
